Nibali is saying he's racing Flanders this year. If he actually does, can we finally convince Alejandro to race it next year? He keeps saying he's going to race it and then pulls out of it.
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Koronin said:Thank you, I appreciate you posting them. That course did not suit him at all. As you can see from the pictures we picked a spot where we saw them twice per lap. I will be forever grateful that he came over here to race a course that didn't suit him as it was truly my once in a lifetime opportunity to see him race. He did manage to get a 5th and was so close to a podium.
Valv.Piti said:Very good opening races for Valverde on Mallorca, super promising stuff. Turns out he told the truth about his level, he seems to be his normal self. Wellens and Moscon said he was the strongest on the climbs in Tramuntana and thinking about it, it was kinda predictable he would lose 2 hungry riders wheels in his first race back on wet descents. Completely understandable IMO, he will probably never be as confident in rain again or on descents, but he doesn't need to be the dominant Valverde we know.
On to Valencia. BMC and especially Sky should be threats in the TTT and will probably lose some time there. Thats the downside of losing guys like Castroviejo, Dowsett, Izagirre-brothers etc., but Im sure they will manage and Valverde can finish the job himself, evidenced by Catalunya in 2917.
so valverde will be winning until 2917Valv.Piti said:Very good opening races for Valverde on Mallorca, super promising stuff. Turns out he told the truth about his level, he seems to be his normal self. Wellens and Moscon said he was the strongest on the climbs in Tramuntana and thinking about it, it was kinda predictable he would lose 2 hungry riders wheels in his first race back on wet descents. Completely understandable IMO, he will probably never be as confident in rain again or on descents, but he doesn't need to be the dominant Valverde we know.
On to Valencia. BMC and especially Sky should be threats in the TTT and will probably lose some time there. Thats the downside of losing guys like Castroviejo, Dowsett, Izagirre-brothers etc., but Im sure they will manage and Valverde can finish the job himself, evidenced by Catalunya in 2917.
Valv.Piti said:I actually meant that he didn't need to be great on descents in order to be the dominating Valverde that we know. But yeah, he doesn't need to be that either, at some point he won't be, but I hope its not this year. Or even next year. I want as much Valverde as possible on the biggest stage, winning the big races. Valverde can't get enough of that and I can't either
Valverde could easily gain that amount of time if he is better than Poels. He doesn't need to be significantly better, that amount of time really isn't that much if you are going strong.WheelofGear said:Poels will properly win Valencia again, even if Bala wins the queen stage.
Valverde doesn't have a strong enough team for the TT. They are going to lose 15-35 secs to Sky.
Valv.Piti said:Valverde could easily gain that amount of time if he is better than Poels. He doesn't need to be significantly better, that amount of time really isn't that much if you are going strong.WheelofGear said:Poels will properly win Valencia again, even if Bala wins the queen stage.
Valverde doesn't have a strong enough team for the TT. They are going to lose 15-35 secs to Sky.
WheelofGear said:Valv.Piti said:Valverde could easily gain that amount of time if he is better than Poels. He doesn't need to be significantly better, that amount of time really isn't that much if you are going strong.WheelofGear said:Poels will properly win Valencia again, even if Bala wins the queen stage.
Valverde doesn't have a strong enough team for the TT. They are going to lose 15-35 secs to Sky.
If Poels has the leader's jersey after the TTT, Valverde is not going to drop him by 30 secs. Only Quintana can do that.
There need to be bonus seconds for him to be the favorite and he needs to win stage 2 as well.
Valv.Piti said:Valverde ahead of Vuelta a Valenciana. Aight, let me try and translate this (very loosely I fear). Lets see how well my sparse Spanish holds up, google translate might be better, but this is more fun
La verdad es que el debut en Mallorca fue muy bueno. El primer día estaba nervioso. No era el nerviosismo de otros años antes de la primera carrera; era diferente y quien haya pasado por una situación similar a la mía lo podrá entender. Pero los dos días siguientes fueron duros, con frío, lluvia, carreteras peligrosas… Vamos, un examen en toda regla para la rodilla, para mi confianza, para todo… Y me vi de los más fuertes en la subida. No quise tomar más riesgos en las bajadas y por eso no pude disputar los triunfos, pero lo más importante fue tener esas sensaciones.
The truth is that the debut at Mallorca went very well. I was very nervous the first day - it wasn't the nervousness from previous years in the first race, it was different and whomever has been in a similar situation might understand. But the days after were very hard, with the cold, rain, dangerous roads. It was an exam in every aspect; for my knee, for my confidence, for everything.., And I saw myself between the strongest on the hill. I didn't want to take many risks on the descents and that's why I couldn't win, but the most important was that I had great sensations.
Son ya cinco días de competición, con una contrarreloj a mitad de carrera… Vamos a dar lo máximo porque estamos bien de forma, pero sin obsesionarnos con la general. Los rivales no creo que estén más fuertes de lo que demostraron Wellens o Moscon en Mallorca, pero sí que serán más en cantidad. Si allí se quedaban tres o cuatro cuando se seleccionaba la carrera, aquí ese grupo será de diez o quince unidades.
Its already 5 with of competition, with a TTT.. We will give our maximum because we are in good form, but we aren't obsessed with the GC. I don't think that the rivals will be stronger than Wellens and Moscon in Mallorca, but there will be more of them. If back then we were three or four when the decisive splits occurred, here this group will be of ten to fifteen riders.
Creo que la contrarreloj por equipos puede marcar la carrera. Hemos visto el recorrido y hemos rodado en él y me ha parecido peligroso, sobre todo en la segunda mitad, con mucha curva y contracurva, aunque ya sabemos que es igual para todos. Nosotros tenemos un gran equipo, pero quizás hay bloques como Sky o BMC que parten con ventaja para la general porque van muy rápido en la crono y luego tienen gente que puede aguantar la llegada del sábado. El final de Las Canteras es duro y me gusta, pero no creo que marque grandes diferencias. Espero estar disputando esa etapa.
I believe that the TTT will mark the race. We have seen the route and we have ridden on it and it seems dangerous with many curves and contra-curves, despite that we already know that it is the same for everyone. We have a great team, but there are also teams like Sky and BMC who have an advantage regarding GC bevause they will be very fast on the TTT and have riders who can be competitive on the finish come Saturday,. The final at Les Canteras (I assume its the MTF) is hard and I like it, but I don't think it will make big difference. I hope to be fighting for the win on that stage.
El cariño de la gente ha sido muy especial en todo este tiempo. Estoy muy agradecido a todo el público que se volcó conmigo en Mallorca y a toda la afición en general, que me sigue apoyando allá por donde voy. Quiero darles las gracias a todos y que sepan que por mi parte voy a seguir luchando y trabajando igual que antes de la lesión.
The love from the people has been very special in all this time. I am grateful for everyone who has cheered for me at Mallorca and the whole affinity in general, all those that continue to help me wherever I go. I wish to give those a thank to everyone and I will continue fighting and working as I always has.
Valv.Piti said:Sutterlin is subbed in instead of Amador, so thats not to bad. Interesting to see what will happen tomorrow!